SIMI Could Be Behind 2008 Malegaon Blast? Pragya Thakur’s Lawyer Argues in Court

Mumbai: The 2008 Malegaon bomb blast, which killed six people and injured over 100, could have been carried out by the banned Students' Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), as per a new claim made by the defence lawyer representing prime accused and BJP leader Pragya Thakur.

During a hearing in a special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court on Thursday, Thakur's lawyer, JP Mishra, argued that local residents prevented police from reaching the blast site immediately after the explosion, possibly to shield the real culprits. 

"Whenever such incidents occur, people usually help the police. However, in this case, immediately after the blast, a large crowd gathered and pelted stones at the police, preventing them from reaching the site. This could have been done to protect 'their people,' possibly SIMI members," Mishra said.

The explosion occurred on September 29, 2008, in Malegaon, a town about 200 km from Mumbai. A motorcycle rigged with explosives went off near a mosque, causing widespread destruction. The prosecution has argued that the motorcycle belonged to Thakur, a former BJP MP from Bhopal.

Mishra, however, pointed to a nearby SIMI office where bombs were allegedly made, suggesting that the explosion might have been an accidental blast while the explosives were being transported on the motorcycle. "A SIMI office was located near the blast site, and they could have been transporting explosives when the accident occurred," he argued.

The defence's final arguments were presented in front of Judge AK Lahoti. The court has already heard from 323 prosecution witnesses, of which 34 turned hostile.

Prosecution Concludes, Defence Continues Arguments

The prosecution, represented by Special Public Prosecutors Avinash Rasal and Anushree Rasal, has completed its arguments. The defence, led by JP Mishra, began its final arguments on Monday.

Thakur, who has been summoned by the court twice — on September 30 and again on October 3 — has not appeared in court. Her lawyers, JP Mishra and Prashant Maggu, explained that she is currently receiving medical treatment for brain complications and has been moved from a hospital in Bhopal to another in Meerut.

"Sadhvi has complications in her brain, and the doctors are not allowing her to travel," Maggu told the court. Mishra added, "If the court wishes, two NIA officials can be sent to verify her condition."

The defence requested an additional seven days for Thakur to attend court. Judge Lahoti, however, stressed that Thakur must be present like all other accused. Other co-accused in the case, including Lt. Col. Prasad Purohit, Major (retired) Ramesh Upadhyay, Ajay Rahirkar, Sudhakar Dwivedi, Sudhakar Chaturvedi, and Sameer Kulkarni, were present in court.

Hindu Terror Theory Conspiracy?

Mishra also argued that the then UPA government conspired to defame Hindus by promoting the theory of "Hindu Terror." He pointed to the proximity of a SIMI office to the blast site, linking it to previous raids in the area.

“The building where the blast occurred also housed a SIMI office, and bombs were recovered there during agency raids two years before the explosion,” Mishra said. He added, “Two years prior to this blast there were raids by the agency and bombs were recovered and some people were arrested from the same building.” 

He further claimed that a mob of 15,000 people attacked police and vandalized police vehicles following the blast, leaving several officers injured. "This could be part of a conspiracy to shield the true perpetrators, possibly SIMI members," he added.

Mishra said, "This could be a conspiracy to save and shield the real prepators of blast ,there could be a possibility if this was orchestrated by SIMI, they crowd that gathered to attack police personnel could be their sympathisers in the similar pattern in which the way it's happening today , they pelted stones. There are sympathisers of Hezbollah and Nasrullah, there is a group of large majority which comes in support of Hezbollah and Nasrullah people come on the streets raise slogans of, “HAR GHAR SE NIKLEGA NASRULLAH”.

Defence lawyer, Prashant Maggu, noted similarities between the events of 2008 and current incidents and said, “Similar was the pattern then and crowd was raising similar kind of slogans, they also pelted stones on police.”

"More than 15,000 people gathered at the spot after the blast and attacked the police, but only 80 to 87 people were booked," Maggu said.

Videographer Saw Stones on Ground but Was Instructed Not to Record – Why?

Mishra read out the statement of a witness in the case, a videographer brought in by the prosecution. "When he was taken to the spot, he saw a lot of stones on the ground but was instructed not to shoot them. The question is, why? Where did the stones come from in such large numbers? Who brought them? This raises a lot of doubts. Who sponsored it?" Mishra asked.

The case, initially investigated by Maharashtra's Anti-Terrorism Squad, was transferred to the NIA in 2011. In October 2018, charges were framed against the accused under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Indian Penal Code. The court proceedings are now in their final stages, with the defence continuing its arguments.